Tape puller for projectors



Nov. 5, 1935. E. w. HEWITT ET AL V TAPE FULLER FOR PROJECTORS FiledMarch 29, 1934 INVENTORS E.W. HEWITT 6.1. ROBERTS I iORNEY Patented Nov.5, 1935 UNITED STATES TAPE runnua Fon. ritomorons Ernest W. Hewitt,Stamford, Conn, and George I.

Roberts, New York, N. 2., assignors to The Western Union TelegraphCompany, New York, N. Y., acorporation of New York Application March 29,1934, Serial No. 718,045

\ 12 Claims. (Cl. 17s-- 42) This invention relates to telegraph printingand projecting systems in which information, such as stock quotations,printed upon a tape are projected upon a screen for observation. More iiparticularly the invention relates to means for controlling the movementof thetape' through the field oi the projector.

- I One of the fundamental requirements of ticker tape projectors, inorder to enable the projected quotations easily readable, is thatmovement, of the tape through the field of the projector be smooth anduniform. The usual printers employed for printing stock quotations,however, eject the tape intermittently, as each character is printed,and in order to. absorb'this intermittent motion of the tape it has beenusual to permit a loop of tape to accumulate between the ticker and theprojector, with the tape puller disposed at the opposite side of theprojector to draw the tape more or less continuously through theprojector, the tape being stopped only when the loop decreases to apredetermined minimum size. While this method of operation, ifproperlyconducted, results in a smooth movement of the siderable lag"between the printing of a quotation and its appearance on the screen,due to an appreciable length of tape in the loop between the printer andthe projector. If the transmis- 80 sion of quotations is interrupted atany time, the tape puller may continue to, operate until the loop issomewhat decreased in size but there is always a number of quotations onthe tape which canas not be projecteduntil the ticker again resumes ingthese quotations upon the screen may be very considerable. In thetransmission of stock quotations, the quotations are perforated in thetape at the, transmitting station and transmitted automatically over thetickerlines by means of standard forms of tape transmitters. If themarket is active, the perforating proceeds substantially continuouslyand the corresponding signals are. transmitted at a uniform rate overthe lines with but few interruptions. Ina slow market, while v there maybe more frequent interruptions in the transmission, the signals; areordinarily transmitted in 'groups, each group comprising a num- 50 herof whole quotations. The rate of transmission of the signals of eachgroup, however, proceeds at a uniform rate, usually about five hundredcharacters per minute, independentlyv of the lengthor number atqlwtaflonsin the group. If the perforating operator becomes even withthe tape, it has the disadvantage of producing a conoperation. In somecases the 'delay in presentmarket or for any other reason stopsperforating for a short interval,the procedure is to conclude thetransmitted signals to control the movement of the tape through theprojector in a novel man- 10 ner, one of the objects beingto entirelyeliminate the use of a tape loop and thereby avoid the time lag betweenthe printing and the projecting of the quotations, incident to the useof such a loop.

Another'object is to provide an even and uniform movement of the tapeacross the field to the projector.

Another object is to enable the last quotation preceding an interruptionin the transmission of signals to be projected without delay. t 20 Astill further object-is to provide a device capable of distinguishingbetween the short interruptions in the operation of the printeroccurring in the normal operation of the tape transmitter and the longerintervals produced by the 25 perforating operator between successivegroups or strings of quotations.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear.

In accordance withour invention we start the movement of the tape whenthe first character of a string of quotations is received and maintainthe movement thereof continuous as long as the successive characters arereceived without interruption, the tape passing directly from the tickerto the projector without an intermediate loop. By placing the outlet ofthe ticker close to the inlet of the projector there will be but ashort'length of tape therebetween and each quotation will appear on thescreen with negligible 40 delay. The elimination of the tape loopwithout the resulting jumpiness of the projected images is made possibleby feeding the ,tape in a continuous manner from the printer, printingbeing efiected on the fly in place of the usual practice in which thetape stops during the printing stroke. For this purpose the usual tapefeed is entirely 3 eliminated from the printer and the tape drawn pastthe type wheel' bya tape feed mechanism disposed at the oppositeside ofthe projector from the printer.-

i The movement of, the tape is made imii'on'n and continuous as long.the pri.nter continues to operate in 1a group or string of quotations.If the of the printer is in-' aoraeus terrupted momentarily in themiddle of a quotav A pair of contacts 60 are arranged to be ention,which occurs only occasionally, the tape is stopped until printing isresumed, but upon cessation of signals for a longer period, due to theperforating operator ceasing to perforate the tape for a more or lessextended period and preceding which figure do't signals are perforatedin the tape, the mechanism responds to these signals to continuouslyadvance the last quotation into the field of the projector, after whichthe tape is stopped until the printer again resumes operation. 7

The invention will be more fully understood by reference to theaccompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view ofa tapeprinting apparatus 'and tape pulling mechanism embodying the presentinvention, and

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the timing device used in theapparatus of Figure 1.

The type of tape' printer with which the invention is shown is thatordinarily known as a high speed stock ticker having a commercialdesignation Ticker 5A", the details of construction of which are" shownin United States patent to Morton, et al No. 1,821,110, grantedSeptembar 1, 1931. Only such parts of the printer mechanism are shown asare necessary for an understanding of the present invention.

Referring to the drawing, the printer employs two parallel shafts II andII, the former carrying the selecting cam drum (not shown) and anoperating cam l2, having an external cam face It. The shaft ll carriesthetyp wheel l5 and surrounding this shaft is a series of five notchedcode disks I 8, one only of which is shown, with which an annular groupof type wheel stop bars I! cooperate; The stop bars are normally held inancutward position by the periphery of the disks it but in eachcombination in which disks may be set the notches of all of the diskswill be alined opposite one of the stop bars to permit the stop bar tomove readily inward. These stop bars determine the printing position ofthe type wheel. 7

Adjacent one of the stop bars H, which corresponds to the figures dotselection, are contacts BI and 52 controlled thereby, the former contactbeing closed when the stop bar i1 is in its outward or unselectedposition and contact 62 being closed only upon the selection and inwardmovement of the stop bar 11'.

The disks '5 are selectively positioned by means of transfer levers l9cooperating with individual selecting levers 20, positioned in thevarious code combinations by the selector cam (not shown) positioned onthe shaft Ill.

The tape T is drawn from a reel (not shown) located at the right of thetype wheel 15 and thence between the type wheel and the platen 23. Fromthis point it passes from the printer and across a support 24 where itmay be directly observed or projected on to a suitable screen. From thesupport 24, the tape passes over a. guide roller 25 and under the tapefeeding roller 25 which is driven through the gears 64 and 65 by asuitable motor, only the shaft 53 of which is shown. A pressure roller28, carried by a lever 29 pivoted at point 30, is urged into contactwith the roller 26 by means of a spring 3|, but is adapted to be heldout of contact therewithby an electro-magnet 32,. A pair of J-springs 33and 34 maintain the tape taut across'the support 24 and prevent movement thereof by the feed roller 26, when the roller 28 isnot inengagement therewith.

gaged by a pin 5| projecting from the face of the operating cam l2 so asto be closed whenever the cam is in the stop position, as shown in .Fig-

urel. 5

Still other contacts 54 and 55 are arranged to be operated by the shiftlever 55 of the printer,

the contact 54being closed when the shift lever is in the letters shiftposition as shown, and contact 55 being closed when the shift lever isin group, through one of the transfer levers l9.

A clutch 86 having a driving element 61 rotating with the feed wheel 25and a driven element 68, serves to time the feeding out of the tapewhenever a figures dot is received. For this purpose the driven element58 has a. cylindrical extension 69 from which a radial stop element I0projects. The clutch faces are normally disengaged and the stop 10 heldagainst an abutment II by a spring 12. The spring 12 partially encirclesthe drum 69 and is secured thereto by a screw I3. The opposite end ofthe spring 12 is secured to a bracket 14 and is disposed so as to exertboth a tangential and an axial force on the drum thereby tending torotate it counter clockwise and at the same time to hold the faces ofthe clutch 66 disengaged.

The clutch faces may be brought into engagement by a lever 15 pivoted atHi, which is adapted tolbe attracted by an electro-magnet 11 against theaction of a spring 18, to engage the outer end 19 of the cylinder 69 toforce the same axially inward against the tension of spring I2 to bringthe faces of clutch GE into frictional engagement. When this occurs thecylinder 69 is rotated through substantially a full revolution againstension of spring 12 to bring the stop Ill in-position to close a pairof contacts 80. The amount of rotation of the stop Ill from the abutmentH into engagement with contacts Bil is just sufficientto enable the lastquotation printed on" the tape to be advanced on to the support 24 andhence into the field of the projector.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows:

With the printer at rest and a selection other than that correspondingto the stop bar 11' setup in the disks I6, contacts 60 and SI will beclosed and contacts and 80 will be open. Either contact 54 or will beclosed depending upon whether the last selection was a letter or figurecharacter. Battery is therefore supplied from a source 8| through thecontacts BI and 55 60, in series, and conductor 82 to the electromagnet32 to energize the same and thereby hold the pressure roller 28 out ofcontact with the feed roller 26. Consequently the tape remains at net 11causing energization thereof and consequent engagement of the clutch 66thereby permitting the stop element 10 to be rotated-into engagementwith the contacts. Bil to close the same. The closure of contactsestablish a circuit from the source of potential 83 through 7 contacts80 to the winding of the feed magnet 32 to thereby energize the same andcause the movement of the tape to be arrested. As'stated, the movementof the stop member ll into position to close the contacts III at thistime corresponds to that required to feed the last printed character onto the support 24 and thus into the field of the projector.

The stop bar l'l' in addition to controlling the figures dot also,controls the stopping oi the type wheel in position to print a characterfrom the letters row of the type wheel. When the letter characteris-selected by the stop bar il' it is not desired to 'feed out the tapesince the letter character may occur at times other than at the end ofagroup of quotations. When the stop bar I1 is selected the letter shiftposition of the printer cont ts M will be cloud, due to the shift lever58 being in the letters shift position and consequently the closing ofcontact 62 by selection of the stop barll' instead of energizing theclutch magnet 11 of the timing mechanism completes 'a circuit from thesource of potential ll through contacts 82 and It in series andconductor "directly to the winding oi the feed magnet 32 to therebyenergize the same and arrest the movement of the tape.

Therefore, if an interruption in the, signals curs other than at the endof a group of quotations, that is any time other than after thereception of the figures dot selection, contact 60 will be closed andalso either contact 8| or contacts '82 and 54.

cause the circuit to magnet I! to be closed immediately to bring thetape to rest so that when signalsare resumed there will be no abnormal-I a tape pulling mechanism foradvancing the tape from the recordingposition of said recorder to and across said support, means responsiveto a predetermined selective operation of said recorder, preceding aninterruption in the operation thereof, for controlling said pullingmechanism to advance the last recorded character onto saidsupport,metering means comprising a rotary element, means for moving the saidelement from a normal position to-a tape arresting position, over aperiod of time not less than the period required for the tape pullingmechanism to' advance the tape from recording position onto saidsupport, and means controlled by said element in its tape arrestingposition for rendering the tape pulling mechanism ineffective to advancethe tape.

2. In combination, a tape recorder, a support, a tape pulling mechanismfor, advancing the tape from the recording position of said recorder toand across said support, means responsive to a predetermined selectiveoperation of said recorder, preceding an interruption in the operationthereof, for controlling said pulling mechanism to advance the lastrecorded character onto said support, metering means comprising motordriven meansfor moving said element from a normal to a tape arrestingposition, over a period of time substantially 'equal to the periodrequired for the tape pulling mechanism to advance the tape fromrecording position onto said support,

some

Either of these conditions, as stated,

. andmeans controlled time element, in its tape arresting position, forrendering the tape pulling m ineffective to advance the tape.

8. In combination. a tape recorder, a support, a tape pullingmechanism'for advancing the tape from the. recording position oi saidrecorder to and across said support, means responsive to a predeterminedselective operation of said recorder, preceding an interrruption in theoperation thereof, for controlling said -pulling mechanism to, advancethe last recorded character onto said support, timing means comprising arotary element,- means for moving the said element from a normalposition to anoperated position and a contact closed by said element inits operated position, is

the period of movement of said rotary element from its normal to itsoperated. position being substantially equal to the period required toadvance the tape from recording position onto said support andelectro-magnetic means controlled by :0 said contact upon the'closurethereof for rendering said tape pulling mechanism ineflective to advancethe tape.

4. In combination, a tape recorder, a support,

a tapepulling mechanism for advancing the as tape from the recordingposition of said recorder to and aeross said support, means responsiveto all interruptions in the operation of the recorder excepting thosefollowing a predetermined selective operationthereoi', for rendering thetape pulling mechanism ineiiective to advance the tape during'such idleperiod ofthe recordenand timing means controlled by said predeterminedselective operation of said recorder, said timing means comprising arotary element, means forss moving said element from a normal positionto a tape arresting-position, over a period of time not less than theperiod required to advancethe tape from recording positiononto saidsupport. said element in the tape arresting position acting to 40interruptions in the operation of the recorder ex ceptingthose followingapredetermined selective operation thereof, for rendering the tapepulling mechanism ineflective to advance the tape during such idleperiod of the recorder, and timing means operativeupon saidpredetermined lili- 7 selective operation of said recorder, said timingmeans comprising a rotary element, means for moving said element from anormal to an operated position, a contact closed by saldelement in itsoperated position, the period of rotation thereof from normal tooperated position being substantially equal to'the period required toadvance the tape from recording position onto said support,electromagnetic means controlled by said contact upon the closurethereof for rendering said tape pulling mechanism ineffective to furtheradvance the tape, and means operative on a subsequent diflerentselective operation of said rccorderior returning said element to normalposition.

7 6. In combination, "a recorder, a tape feeding device for advancingtape beyond said recmder for observation in a continuous and uniformmovement during the printing of successive char- 1g acters, means forarresting the movement of the tape upon all interruptions of operationof the recorder excepting those following a predetermined selectiveoperation thereof, and rotary motor driven means responsive to saidpredetermined selective operation of said recorder for arresting themovement of the tape after the last printed character has been advanceda predetermined distance beyond said recorder.

'1. In combination, a recorder, a tape feeding \device for advancing thetape beyond said recorder for observation in a continuous and uniformmovement during the printing of successive characters, means forarresting the movement of the tape upon interruption of operation of therecorder excepting that following a predetermined selective operationthereof, timing means driven independently of said recorder,meansresponsive to said predetermined selective operation of saidrecorder for setting said timing means into operation and meanscontrolled by said timing means after. a predetermined period of timefor interrupting the movement of the tape.

8. In combination, a recorder forstock quotations, a support, a tapepulling mechanism for advancing the tape across said support, means fornormally stopping the movement of said tape across said support uponinterruption of the operation of said recorder, a normally inactive.timing mechanism "driven independently of said recorder and meansresponsive to predetermined selective operation of said recorder forsetting said timing mechanism into operation, said timing mechanismserving a) delay the stopping of the tape until the last quotationrecorded prior to said interruption has been advanced onto said support.

9. In combination, a support, a data recording device located at oneside of the support, a tape pulling device located at the opposite sideof the support and serving to draw the tape in a continuous movementthrough said data recording device and across said support, when saiddata recording device is printing successive characters,

means for normally stopping the movement oi the tape immediately uponinterrupting of the operation of the recording device, said means beinginefiective to stop the tape upon interruption of the operation of therecording device following the reception of a predetermined selectivecondition, and means controlled by said recording device upon receptionof said predetermined selective condition and driven by said tapepulling mechanism for effecting stopping of the tape after the lastprinted character has been advanced onto said support.

10. In combination, a tape recorder, a support, a tape pulling mechanismfor advancing the tape across said support, electromagnetic op- '5erating means for'efi'ecting stopping of the tape, contact meansoperated by said recorder for normally energizing said electromagneticmeans substantially immediately upon interruption of the operation ofthe recorder, said contact means 10 being ineffective to causeenergization of said electromagnetic device upon reception of apredetermined selective condition by the recorder and separate contactmeans driven by said tape pulling mechanism and operating a predeterismined time after the-reception of said last predetermined selectivecondition for energizing said electromagnetic means to effect stoppingofthe tape.

11. In combination, a tape recorder, a support, a tape pulling mechanismfor advancing the tape across said support, means for effecting stoppingof the tape, control means operated by said recorder for normallyoperating said first means immediately upon each interruption of 25 theoperation of the recorder, said control means being ineffective tooperate said first means upon interruption of the recorder following thereception of a predetermined selective condition by the recorder andseparate control means 80 driven by said tape pulling mechanism andoperating a predetermined time after the reception of said lastpredetermined selective condition for operating said first means toeifect stopping of the tape.

12. In combination a tape recorder, a support, a tape pulling mechanismfor advancing the tape across said support, means for eflecting stoppingof the' tape, control means operated by said recorder for normallyoperating said first 40 means immediately upon each interruption -of theoperation of the recorder, said control means being ineffective tooperate said first means upon reception of a predetermined selectivecondition by the recorder and a second control means op-- erating from anormal position to a second position on each reception of saidpredetermined selective condition and returnable to said normal positionupon the reception of the first selection of a different kind followingsaid predetermined to selective operation, said second control meanswhen operated to its second position serving to operate said first meansto effect stoppingof the tape. 5

ERNEST W. HEWI'I'I. GEORGE 1. ROBERTS.

